Top Accentia executive steps down

Samuel Duffey has resigned as the top executive at Accentia Biopharmaceuticals Inc.

Duffey was president, CEO, general counsel and principal executive officer of Accentia (OTCQB: ABPI), a drug development firm headquartered in Tampa.

Garrison Hasara was appointed acting CEO, along with his current job as acting chief financial officer and controller. Hasara, a Certified Public Accountant, has been acting CFO since January 2012 and controller since 2005. Hasara also was designated Accentia’s principal executive officer.

Accentia disclosed the personnel changes, which were effective Feb. 20, in a filing late Feb. 22 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The filing said Duffey, who is 67 years old, retired along with his resignation. His resignation was voluntary and did not result from any disagreement with the company, according to the filing. He served without a formal employment agreement and his retirement and resignation won’t result in any severance or compensation, the filing said.

Duffey also is CEO, president and general counsel at Biovest International (OTCQB: BVTI), a subsidiary of Accentia. He will continue in those roles, a spokesman said.